Bride In Flames

Chapter:3

Chapter Three:

I stepped out of the car.

Reporters immediately rushed toward me.

"Miss Anderson!"

"Is it true you're investing billions in the city?” "Are you planning to acquire the Jackson Group?" I smiled.

Just here for business.

The receptionist nearly jumped from her chair.

"Miss Anderson, Mr. Jackson is waiting for you."

My heart stopped.

"Mr. Jackson?"

The moment Olivia looked at me, my body went cold.

For five years, I had imagined standing in front of her.

I had imagined slapping her.

I had imagined watching her lose everything.

I had imagined asking her why she wanted me dead.

But nothing had prepared me for seeing her again.

Alive.

Beautiful.

Smiling.

As if she had never stood outside that burning building.

As if she had never told me to burn in hell.

"Jayson, darling, who is this?"

Her voice.

That voice.

The same soft voice that had followed me through the flames.

My fingers tightened around my handbag.

I couldn't breathe.

"Mom," Jayson said, turning toward her. "This is Emily Anderson."

Olivia's eyes moved over me.

For one terrifying second, I thought she recognized me.

Then she smiled.

"Emily Anderson?” "Yes."

I forced my lips to curve.

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

She walked closer.

"So you're the woman everyone has been talking about."

"I suppose I am."

Olivia laughed softly.

"You are even more beautiful in person."

My stomach twisted.

If only she knew.

If she knew the woman standing in front of her was Elena, the bride she had tried to burn alive.

Would that smile disappear?

I wanted to find out.

But not yet.

Not until she suffered.

Jayson was still staring at me.

His eyes had not left my face.

"Have we really never met?" he asked again.

I looked at him.

"No."

The lie nearly broke me.

He frowned.

"You're sure?"

"Very sure."

Olivia touched his arm.

"Jayson, stop bothering the poor woman."

He looked at his mother.

"I'm not bothering her."

"You've been staring at her since she arrived."

He said nothing.

I lowered my gaze.

Inside, my heart was beating so hard I was afraid they could hear it.

I had waited five years to see him.

Now that I finally stood in front of him, I wanted to run into his arms.

But I couldn't.

I wasn't Elena anymore.

I was Emily. And I had come back for revenge.

"Miss Anderson," Olivia said, "I heard your company is planning to invest heavily in this city."

"That's correct."

"Perhaps we should talk."

"About business?"

"Of course."

Her smile was perfect.

I knew immediately that she wanted something.

Monica had warned me.

Olivia's company was in trouble.

Several investors had pulled out.

A rival company was preparing to take control.

She needed money.

And I had plenty of it.

I smiled.

"I'd be happy to discuss a partnership."

Jayson looked at me.

"Mother, the meeting is supposed to be between Emily and me."

Olivia's smile faded slightly.

"I only wanted to help."

"I can handle it."

Something passed between them.

A silent argument.

Then Olivia stepped back.

"Fine."

She looked at me again.

"Emily, why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"

My heart skipped.

Dinner.

At the Jackson mansion.

The place where I had once dreamed of living as Jayson's wife.

The place where Olivia had spent years pretending to be my family.

"That sounds lovely."

Jayson looked surprised.

"You're accepting?"

I nodded.

"Why not?"

His eyes narrowed.

"I'll pick you up."

"I can drive myself."

"I insist."

I smiled." Then I'll see you tonight."

I walked away before my emotions could betray me.

But the moment I entered the elevator, my smile disappeared.

I pressed my hand against my chest.

He still had the same effect on me.

One look.

One smile.

One word.

And five years of anger almost disappeared.

I hated myself for it.

That evening, I stood outside Jackson's mansion.

My fingers trembled slightly.

I remembered walking through those gates five years ago.

I was nervous.

Excited.

Happy.

I had believed I was entering my new home.

Instead, I had walked into a family that wanted me dead.

The front door opened.

A servant greeted me.

"Miss Anderson, Mr. Jackson is waiting."

I stepped inside.

Everything looked the same.

The grand staircase.

The crystal chandelier.

The expensive paintings.

The marble floor.

Memories attacked me one after another.

Jayson kissing my forehead.

Our first dinner.

Olivia smiled at me.

My wedding invitation is lying on the table.

I closed my eyes.

No.

I couldn't let the memories weaken me.

"Emily."

I opened my eyes.

Jayson stood at the top of the stairs.

He was wearing a dark blue suit.

No tie.

His sleeves were rolled up.

He looked exactly like the man I had married.

My heart ached.

"You came."

"I said I would."

He walked down the stairs.

"I wasn't sure."

"Why?"

He stopped in front of me.

"Because I can't understand why you feel so familiar."

I forced a laugh.

"Maybe I'm just your type."

His lips curved.

"Maybe."

For a moment, we simply stared at each other.

Then he reached out.

His fingers touched mine.

A sharp memory flashed through my mind.

Jayson holding my hand during our wedding.

I love you, Elena.

I quickly pulled away.

He noticed.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No."

"Then why did you pull away?"

I looked at him.

"Because I don't like people touching me without warning."

It was a lie.

He nodded slowly.

"I'll remember that."

His voice was gentle.

That made it worse. Dinner began quietly.

Victor sat at the head of the table.

Olivia sat beside him.

Jayson sat across from me.

I barely touched my food.

Olivia kept watching me.

"So, Emily," she said, "tell me about your family."

I lifted my glass.

"There isn't much to tell."

"Parents?"

"They're dead."

"Both?"

"Yes."

It wasn't completely a lie.

The Elena they knew was dead.

Olivia smiled.

"I'm sorry."

I stared at her.

She didn't look sorry.

Not even a little.

"Thank you."

Jayson noticed the tension.

"Mother, you don't have to question her."

Olivia smiled innocently.

"I was only being friendly."

Then she asked if I wasn't ready for.

"Have you ever been married?"

My fingers froze around my fork.

"No."

"Engaged?"

"No."

"Strange."

"Why?"

"A beautiful woman with your wealth and status must have many men interested in her.”I smiled.

"I'm not interested in most men."

Jayson looked at me.

"And what kind of man interests you?"

I met his eyes.

"Someone loyal."

His expression softened.

"Anything else?"

"Someone who keeps his promises."

His smile disappeared.

Because those words meant more to me than he could ever know.

After dinner, I stepped outside onto the balcony.

I needed air.

Then I heard footsteps.

Jayson.

"You disappeared."

"I needed some air."

He stood beside me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

He studied me.

"You say that a lot."

I smiled.

"Maybe because I am."

He leaned against the railing.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you believe in love?"

I froze.

"Why are you asking?"

"I don't know."

He looked at the city.

"After my wife died, I stopped believing in it.”My heart cracked.

He still called me his wife.

I swallowed.

"I'm sorry."

"I loved her."

I looked away.

"She must have been special."

"She was."

His voice became quiet.

"She was the only woman who ever made me feel like I wasn't alone."

Tears threatened my eyes.

I quickly turned away.

He noticed.

"Emily?"

"I'm tired."

I moved toward the door.

He caught my wrist.

I froze.

His touch sent a familiar warmth through me.

He stared at me.

Then his eyes moved to my hand.

To the ring finger.

"Why do you still wear a wedding ring?"

My heart stopped.

I looked down.

The ring I had forgotten to remove.

My old wedding ring.

Jayson's eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?"

I pulled my hand away.

"It's just a ring."

"That isn't just a ring."

His voice changed.

He reached for my hand again.

"That ring belonged to Elena."

I stepped backward.

His eyes locked onto mine.

"How do you have my wife's wedding ring?"

I couldn't speak.

Then the balcony door opened.

Olivia stood there.

Her eyes fell on the ring.

Her face went completely pale.

For the first time since I returned, I saw fear in her eyes."Elena?